BTS Documentary Sparks Controversy Over New Album 'Arirang' Following the release of a Netflix documentary, controversy surrounding BTS's new album 'Arirang' has resurfaced. BTS released 'Arirang' on April 20, receiving praise for its modern reinterpretation of traditional themes. However, it sparked debate online over excessive nationalism, known as 'gukppong' in Korea. Criticism also emerged towards RM, a key producer for the group. In response, their agency announced legal action against malicious comments directed at the members. The documentary, which details the album's production, reignited discussions. It features Bang Si-hyuk, the head of HYBE, discussing the album's concept. Bang stated, "When you gather 60,000 to 70,000 people for a performance, having over 50% of foreigners singing along to the chorus of 'Arirang' is incredibly iconic," and expressed concerns about not discussing significant ideas. He dismissed the opinions of members like J-Hope and Jungkook when they cautiously disagreed, insisting that even if their suggestions were better, the larger benefits outweighed any losses. The documentary's release led to widespread discussion on domestic online platforms. Comments included, "If the documentary hadn't been released, BTS would have faced all the criticism," and "BTS is not a cultural ambassador but an artist." One user remarked, "The decision to finalize and release this documentary shows a lack of awareness," suggesting it aimed to validate Bang's perspective against the members' views. Additionally, a review published on the music community 'Eizm' on April 23 drew attention. Critic Han Seong-hyun noted, "BTS is no longer just the seven members' names; it has become a proxy for the long-standing thirst for recognition from the West and a key factor for HYBE's stock fluctuations." Meanwhile, BTS continues its global activities, with the new album receiving mixed reactions. 2026-03-30 08:48:22

BTS returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 With 'ARIRANG' SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - BTS has claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200 with ARIRANG, the group's fifth studio album, earning 641,000 equivalent album units in its first week, the largest opening for a group album since the chart adopted unit-based tracking in December 2014, Billboard reported Sunday. The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on physical and digital sales, streaming activity converted into album units, and track-equivalent albums. Of that total, 532,000 came from pure album sales, the biggest sales week for a group in more than a decade. Physical sales accounted for 516,000 units, driven by a release configuration of 17 vinyl variants and nine CD editions. Vinyl alone tallied 208,000 units, the strongest vinyl sales week ever recorded for a group in the modern era. The achievement marks BTS's seventh No. 1 on the Billboard 200, extending a run that began in 2018 when LOVE YOURSELF Tear became the first K-pop album to top the chart. ARIRANG was released March 20 alongside a Netflix live special and lead single "SWIM." The group followed with back-to-back appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 25 and 26. A supporting world tour opens April 9 in Goyang, South Korea, with the North American leg running from April 25 through Sept. 6. 2026-03-30 08:41:00

Actress Sa Mija Seen Using Cane After Fall, Colleague Says Actress Sa Mija has been seen in an update following a fall. Actor Han Ji-il posted a message and video on his social media on the 29th, writing, "National mom senior Sa Mija had a fall and can’t walk well, so she is getting help from juniors. Please recover quickly." In the video, Sa uses a cane and takes steps with assistance from younger colleagues. Sa debuted in 1964. She has previously said she collapsed from a heart attack in 2005 and again from a cerebral infarction in 2018.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 08:09:13

BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for Group’s Seventh Chart-Topper 그룹 방탄소년단(BTS)이 정규 5집 '아리랑'(ARIRANG)으로 미국 빌보드 앨범 차트 '빌보드 200' 1위를 차지했다. Billboard said in a chart preview posted on its website on the 29th (local time) that BTS’ fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, ahead of Luke Combs’ “The Way I Am” and Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem.” The result gives BTS its seventh No. 1 album on the chart. The Billboard 200 ranks albums by total album units, combining physical and digital album sales, streaming equivalent albums (SEA) and track equivalent albums (TEA). “ARIRANG” posted 641,000 album units during the tracking week, the biggest total for any group since Billboard began measuring the chart by album units in December 2014. Billboard said the figure is the largest since Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl,” which debuted last year with about 4 million album units. BTS first topped the Billboard 200 in 2018 with “LOVE YOURSELF 轉 Tear,” becoming the first K-pop act to reach No. 1. The group later returned to the top with “LOVE YOURSELF 結 ANSWER” (2018), “MAP OF THE SOUL : PERSONA” (2019), “MAP OF THE SOUL : 7” (2020), “BE” (2020) and “Proof” (2022).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-30 06:03:15

Samsung Biologics Faces First-Ever Strike Threat as Union Vote Tops 95% Samsung Biologics is facing the threat of its first strike since it was founded in 2011. The company’s union said March 29 that 95.52% of eligible voters backed strike action in a completed vote. Of 3,678 eligible voters, the union said, the approval rate reached 95.52%. The union has 3,689 members, about 75% of the company’s workforce. Labor and management have held 13 rounds of wage and collective bargaining talks but have not narrowed their differences. The union is seeking an average 14% pay raise, a 30 million won incentive payment per employee, a profit-sharing bonus equal to 20% of operating profit, and allocations of company shares over three years. It also wants the company to obtain the union’s prior consent when exercising key management and personnel authority. Management has countered with a 6.2% raise, citing standards used at major group affiliates such as Samsung Electronics. Market watchers have raised concerns that a strike could disrupt Samsung Biologics’ 15 trillion won plan to expand production capacity and affect the operating schedule for its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) plants. The union said it plans to hold informal talks after CEO John Rim returns to South Korea. Union Chairman Park Jae-seong said, “If the company brings an improved proposal during the remaining period, we are willing to talk at any time,” adding that “there is clearly room to compromise at an appropriate level” if management does so. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the union said it plans to begin a strike on May 1. 2026-03-29 19:54:00

Mideast War, Oil Spike Squeeze South Korea Pharma-Bio Supply Chains and Shipping Costs South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry is facing a double hit from soaring oil prices tied to a prolonged Middle East war: disruptions in raw-material supplies and higher logistics costs. Major drugmakers are expanding inventories and seeking alternative suppliers amid concerns over shortages of key inputs such as naphtha, while the government is stepping up supply-chain monitoring and exploring joint measures with the industry. Industry officials said Sunday that the Middle East crisis, fueled by the war involving the United States and Israel and Iran, has heightened fears of instability in crude supplies from the region. International oil prices have topped $100 a barrel, setting new record highs. The combination of surging input prices and supply uncertainty is rippling through the sector. With domestic refiners heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude, supply chains have come under strain and naphtha prices have jumped more than 20% this month. Naphtha is a core material used to make pharmaceutical packaging containers and IV fluid bags, raising concerns across the industry. Suppliers of basic IV solutions, including JW Jungoe Pharm and HK inno.N, are moving urgently to prepare for possible shortages of IV bags. The companies held an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to discuss bringing in alternative materials and freezing inventories, according to industry officials. “If the situation drags on, hospitals could face supply disruptions due to a shortage of IV bags,” a pharmaceutical company official said. Major drugmakers have also taken preemptive steps to secure materials. Yuhan Corp. has stockpiled two to three months’ worth of pharmaceutical packaging materials, and Dong-A Pharmaceutical and Korea United Pharmaceutical have increased inventories through early orders. Rising logistics costs are another pressure point. With oil prices surging, sea and air freight rates have climbed 15% to 20%, pushing up the cost of importing raw materials. Smaller drugmakers said the added burden is difficult to absorb given already thin margins. The food and drug safety ministry is frequently checking the supply of pharmaceutical packaging containers. It is also reviewing regulatory support, including faster approval procedures when changes in packaging materials are needed. A pharmaceutical company official said the business environment is deteriorating rapidly as global instability drives up oil prices, exchange rates and freight costs while worsening uncertainty over raw-material supplies. The official warned that disruptions could lead to imbalances in supplies of essential medicines such as cold remedies and antibiotics, posing a potential threat to health security. Some in the industry said the turmoil should be used to reshape supply chains. A biotech industry executive noted that most domestic companies import active pharmaceutical ingredients, making broader drug production vulnerable if supply chains falter. The executive called for government incentives to raise self-sufficiency in active ingredients.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 18:33:21

Pro-Palestinian, pro-U.S. rallies converge in Seoul on Land Day eve SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - Rival demonstrations filled the streets of central Seoul on Sunday, as pro-Palestinian activists and Iranian expatriates backing the United States held back-to-back rallies that briefly brought opposing crowds face-to-face without incident. The larger of the two gatherings, organised by the group dubbed "People in Solidarity with Palestinians," drew about 200 participants to Jongno-district before marching toward the U.S. and Israeli embassies. South Koreans, resident Palestinians, and resident Americans joined the march, calling for an end to U.S. strikes on Iran and Israel's offensive in Gaza. The rally was timed to mark the 50th anniversary of Land Day, commemorated each March 30 in memory of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in 1976 during protests against land seizures. Participants laid out photographs of Iranian children killed in airstrikes alongside small backpacks in a silent tribute. A separate cycling contingent from the "BDS Korea" group rode from Jongno-district to the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-district, their bicycles bearing Palestinian flags and banners demanding a halt to what they described as a massacre in Gaza. On the opposing side, the "Iranian Network in Korea" held a pro-U.S., anti-regime rally near Uijeongbu Station in the afternoon. About 20 Iranian residents waved the flags of Iran, the United States, and Israel, chanting slogans including "We are the revolution" and "No justice, no peace." Tensions briefly spiked when the pro-Palestinian march passed the Iranian rally in progress, prompting the counter-demonstrators to raise their voices. Police, who had maintained control of the march route throughout the afternoon, prevented any physical confrontation between the two groups. 2026-03-29 18:00:05

Lee Sun-bin Tries to Deliver Party Invite to Park Bo-young on MBC’s “Manitto Club” Lee Sun-bin launches a mission to deliver an invitation to Park Bo-young on MBC’s variety show “Manitto Club.” Episode 9, airing today (29), follows third-generation members Cha Tae-hyun, Park, Lee, Hwang Kwang-hee and Kang Hoon as they carry out individual “manitto” missions. Lee, an eight-year friend of Park and her assigned partner, plans an “early birthday party” and prepares a special surprise for her. In a preview clip, Lee disguises herself as a part-time worker to hand Park the invitation. Lee moves in as soon as she spots Park and passes along the invite, but Park quickly senses something is off and asks, “Are you my manitto?” catching Lee off guard. Lee keeps up the act, signaling that she was sent by someone else, and the show says she manages to fool Park. To maintain the cover, she continues doing actual part-time work to stay in character. The preview also shows Park checking the invitation and offers a look at the party venue, building anticipation for Lee’s surprise and Park’s reaction in the full episode. “Manitto Club” Episode 9 airs at 6:05 p.m. today.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 16:36:15

Lee Hi and Dok2 Go Live Together After Dating Rumors, Show Affection On Camera Singer Lee Hi and rapper Dok2 went live together shortly after reports sparked dating rumors. On the 28th, Lee Hi hosted a real-time livestream on her social media account. The two counted down to 6 p.m. with fans ahead of the release of “You & Me,” the first single from their jointly founded label, 808 HI RECORDINGS. Throughout the broadcast, they showed frequent physical affection, including putting an arm around each other and linking shoulders. They also showed matching necklaces described as a couple item. When viewers asked, “Are you really dating?” they avoided a direct answer, though their appearance was widely interpreted as an acknowledgment of the relationship. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 16:15:18

Actor Lee Dong-hwi on 'Method Acting' and Moving Beyond a Comedy Image 코미디로 사랑받았지만 더 이상 '웃기는 배우'로만 남고 싶지 않은 인물. 영화 '메소드연기'는 그 욕망과 불안을 메타 코미디의 방식으로 비튼 작품이다. 실제 이름을 그대로 가져온 캐릭터 '이동휘'를 연기한 배우 이동휘는 웃음과 자의식, 과몰입이 뒤섞인 낯선 얼굴을 꺼내 보인다. 영화 '메소드연기'(감독 이기혁)로 돌아온 이동휘를 만났다. "Director Lee Gi-hyeok was preparing a feature based on a different story, but it was halted for various reasons. Then he thought about which of his shorts could be expanded for a wider audience, and 'Method Acting' came to mind. Since the short was introduced mainly on the festival circuit, we brought in the more universal keyword of family and expanded it so audiences could relate," Lee said. '메소드연기'는 이기혁 감독의 동명 단편에서 출발한 작품이다. 장편으로 확장되는 과정에서 영화는 보다 보편적인 정서로 넓어졌고, Lee participated closely in that process as both an actor and a producer. Working with Lee Gi-hyeok, a longtime friend, he said he watched up close as a short film grew into a story meant to meet a broader audience. 무엇보다 흥미로운 건 영화 속 '이동휘'가 실제 배우 Lee Dong-hwi와 떼어놓고 보기 어려운 인물이라는 점이다. In the film, the character is also loved for comedy but does not want to be trapped by that image. Lee said the premise did not feel unfamiliar. "Whether it's a villain role or comedy, the public knows you for what they've seen. Once an image sticks, scripts tend to come in along those lines," he said. "There are seniors who broke out of those images over a long time and proved it through experience. I'm quietly following that path. I think it's arrogant to feel I have to solve it quickly. In an actor's life, I'm grateful for each opportunity. If there's a use for me, if there's value, I'm just thankful." He said he draws inspiration from athletes and musicians who train daily, pushing through boredom and fatigue, and tries to bring that discipline to his work. "I love comedy as a genre, and I have expectations about language and expression," he said. Lee also spoke about the gap between his friendly public image and what he described as a more sensitive private temperament, saying it once weighed on him but has eased with age. "Now that I'm 40, I think I'm becoming more rounded," he said. "The sharp parts and those worries soften, and I accept what I need to accept. I think I'm in the process of becoming an adult. If it were back when I was more hot-blooded, I might have been a bit prickly, but now I have chronic fatigue. Ha ha." On the surface, the project can look like a vehicle built for Lee: He uses his real name and plays a character that overlaps with his public persona. Lee said that made it harder, not easier, because he had to manage the distance between reality and fiction in every scene. "I vaguely thought it would be easier if I played 'me,' but once we started shooting, every day was homework," he said. "It shouldn't look like a documentary, and it's not a reality observation show, so you have to keep building layers." He cited a scene in which the character watches his mother from behind as she crosses a crosswalk. Seeing actress Kim Geum-soon from behind reminded him of his own mother, he said, and the emotion surged. "I thought, 'If the role gets too close to my life, it will be hard,'" he said, adding that he decided family material needed a more fictional approach to avoid taking a mental toll. The film also includes moments that recall a less mature period in the actor's life, including how the character treats juniors and approaches the set. Lee said the project prompted him to reflect on his earlier self, when he was focused on doing well but had not yet learned how to help carry a production as part of a team. "Looking back, I think I was only obsessed with running forward," he said. "My focus was only on 'I have to do well,' and I thought only, 'I have to be intense.'" He said he was struck by an acceptance-speech remark by actor Tony Leung, who wondered whether he could have worked with more smiles, and said he related to it. Lee said he learned by watching veteran actor Choi Min-sik on the set of 'Casino,' describing how Choi embraced the whole set and treated people warmly. "If there's a set I return to someday, I should approach it with more growth and maturity, shouldn't I?" he said. "It's a process of telling myself that." Lee said he was cautious about audiences overlapping the character with him as a person. He said he hoped it would be received as one person's story, but not reduced to only his private hardships. "I've kept challenging myself, but I still don't think I've achieved something," he said. "On set there are cries that don't remain as records, and inside that we're always chasing something. I wanted it to be received not just as results, but as a person's story. But I didn't want it to be limited to Lee Dong-hwi's personal struggle or difficulty, either." He added that some viewers may find parts of the finished film lacking in communication, but said he hoped his effort came through. He said he confronted family issues and other emotional matters during filming and came to see himself in difficult moments, which he believed could shape how the work is received. Still, Lee said he felt he had little choice but to put more of himself forward in this project, believing a purely fictional character would not bring audiences close enough. Even so, he said he ultimately hopes the film is received as fiction. "I hope this film is ultimately accepted as a fictional character," he said. "In this project, I had to find the courage, and I didn't think I could get close to the audience by only playing a made-up person. So I thought I had to put some of myself out front, and I challenged myself with that mindset. How it looks is up to the audience."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-29 14:57:20